Cold process water softener



Oct. 16, 1951 e. P. CLEMENT 2,571,421

cow PROCESS WATER SOFTENER Filed Jan. 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 1 GEORGE P. C LEMENT INVENTOR.

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Oct. 16, 1951 G. P. CLEMENT COLD PROCESS WATER SOFTENER 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Jan. 21, 1948 FIG-.3

GEORGE P CLEMENT INVENTOR.

Oct. 16, 1951 G. P. CLEMENT COLD PROCESS WATER SOFTENER Filed Jan. 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 FIGQS GEORGE P. CLEMENT INVENTOR.

Oct. 16, 1951 CLEMENT 2,571,421

COLD PROCESS WATER SOFTENER Filed Jan. 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 4 GEORGE P. C LEM ENT INVENTOR.

FIG. 8 BY Oct. 16, 1951 G. P. CLEMENT cow PROCESS WATER SOFTENER Filed Jan. 21, 1948 5 Sheets-Sheet 5 sob GEORGE P. C LEMENT INVENTOR.

' heavy enough to settle out of the water. been found that by causing a relatively large Patented Oct. 16, 1951 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE COLD PROCESS WATER SOFTENER George P. Clement. New York, N. Y., assignor to Worthington Pump and Machinery Col-porn: tion, Harrison, N. J., a corporation of Delaware Application January 21, 1948, Serial No. 3,511

, 14 Claims. 1

This invention relates to the art of water purification and is particularly concerned with an improved apparatus for mixing raw water, chemicals, and slurry.

As is well known, the two basic steps in the softening of water by the cold process are, first, mixing the raw water with chemicals, such as lime or soda ash, to form insoluble compounds with the undesirable constituents and, second, separating the precipitates thus formed from the water. Purification by this simple chemical reaction is, however, a lengthy process since the insoluble compounds are so small in size that they do not readily precipitate until they have had an opportunity to agglomerate and grow It has amount of precipitated solids to remain in circulation in the water the rate .of softening is greatly increased. This beneficial discovery has been explained by observations which indicate that the circulating solids act as carriers of the chemicals and as nuclei to hasten formation, agglomeration, and separation of the reaction products from the water. In view of this discovery the preferred water softening process now comprises the steps of mixing the raw water with chemicals to form insoluble compounds, recirculating the insoluble compounds through that zone wherein the chemicals and water are mixed, and separating the insoluble compounds from the water.

The various apparatus for carrying out this process, of course, all include tanks which, in general, have separation zones and mixing zones with suitable partitions in the mixing zone to direct recirculation of the solids. These apparatus have employed one of two means for actuating recirculatory flow, viz., first, moving stream projecting surfaces (impellers) and, second, eductor tubes utilizing the incoming water as an eductor medium.

The present invention provides a novel means for actuating recirculatory flow. This is the pressure difference along the diameter of a vortex which is created in the mixing zone. The vortex results from appreciable rotation of fluid in the mixing zone and is preferably actuated by the energy of incoming raw water entering in suitably directed jets.

It will be seen, therefore, particularly with respect to equipment now known to the art, that the present invention has a number of objects, one of which is to substantially eliminate moving parts from water treating apparatus. A second is basically simple and economical to construct and operate- Another object is to provide an apparatus embodying a basic recirculatory mechanism which is capable of a wide variety of structural modifications in order to meet specific operating conditions.

Other features and objects of the invention will become apparent from the description of the following drawings in which Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through a water treating apparatus of a preferred form embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a cross section of the apparatus shown in Figure 1 taken along the line 2-2 thereof.

Figure 3 is a view in perspective with parts broken away of the device of Figures 1 and 2.

Figure 4 is a section along the line |-4 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal section of a modified embodiment of the invention.

Figure 6 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a water treating apparatus embodying a modified form of the invention.

Figure '7 is a view along line 1-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a diagrammatic sectional view of the basic form of the invention.

Figure 9 is a longitudinal section through a portion of a modified form of the invention.

Figure 10 isa longitudinal section through a portion of a modified form of the invention.

The water treating apparatus of Figure 1 has a vertical housing or receptacle l which is preferably cylindrical and is divided into the upper separation chamber 2 and the lower reaction chamber 3 by a horizontal partition 4. The structure above and not connected to the partition 4 forms no part of the present invention and may be of any desired construction. In the present case the preferred structure comprises an annular treated water storage tank 5 located about the top 6 of the tank i to receive water spilling over the upper edge thereof. The tank 5 has an outlet 1 through which treated water is withdrawn. A concentrator 8 is mounted within the chamber 2 adjacent the floc bed 9 so that excess precipitated solids may be drawn off in the usual manner.

A hollow casing I0 is mounted in the reaction chamber 3. It is preferably cylindrical, though it may be conical or of other shapes, and may be 3 madeupofanupperportion ll oflargediameter, an intermediate portion if of intermediate diameter. and a lower portion ll of small diameter. The interior of portion ll comprises the primary mixing chamber It, the interior of portion It comprises the water inlet chamber II,

and the lower portion it comprises the slurry inlet II. .The top of the casing It comprises an outlet II for mixing chamber II. The annular space between the. outer surface of the casing II and the walls of the tank I is the recirculation chamber II. The casing I is mounted on a supporting'and flow guiding member ll so that the inlet II is spaced above the bottom of the tank.

It will thus be seen that there is nothing to pre-' vent free and continuous circulation of fluid through chambers I, II, and II.

The energy for such circulation, or recircula-' tion as it is usually referred to, is preferably provided by the incoming raw water. This is fed into the inlet chamber II by means of tangentially arranged nozzles 20. Water issuing in jets from the inlet members ll strikes the cylindrical walls of the chamber ll whereupon it is deflected into rotary motion. As a result of this action, the entire body of fluid within the casing is is caused to rotate about the axis of the casing II and the tank I. Such rotation creates'a vortex and causes an appreciable variationin velocity head of the fluid along any radial section of the casing it. Theoretically, at least, this head increases parabolically with the distance from the center of rotation. As a consequence, fluid in a cylindrical extension of the inlet II is at a lower e than other fluid in the reaction chamher I. Fluid is, therefore, forced by the pressure difference to flow from the recirculation chamber ll through the inlet it into the casing It. This fluid is then caught up by the mass of rotating fluid in the casing and is thrown outwardly by centrifugal force. It rises and passes out of the casing ll through the outlet II from whence it flows downwardly through the recirculation chamber II to repeat the cycle of recirculation.

. The upper portion ll of the casing II has adjacent the outlet ll, a plurality of flow directing vanes 2i which are designed to arrest rotary movement of the fluid passing out of the casing II and to convert some of this velocity energy into pressure head thus increasing the pressure diflerence between the fluid in the recirculation chamber II and that at the inlet It. Stationary vanes I! may also be provided in the annular recirculation chamber II to further induce linear flow of the fluid prior to its passage through the inlet II. The flow guiding member II is also constructed to reduce rotation of the fluid entering the casing ll. 7

' The pipe or conduit It provides for the passage of fluid from the reaction chamber 3 to the separation chamber 2. This conduit is coaxial with the casing I. and has its inlet 28 located in flli low pressure area below the inlet Jets fl. Thus, some of the fluid which is forced from the recirculation chamber into the casing it. as described above, flows upwardly through the pipe 2'. The outlet 21 of the conduit II is in partition 4 so that fluid flows up into the bottom of the separation chamber I. Since fluid passing through the pipe ll has an appreciable velocity a deflector plate It is spaced above the outlet 21 to change the axial flow into radial flow. The vanes 2-! are.

spaced around the outlet 21 and impart a gentle rotation to the fluid deflected therethrough by the plate 30,

4 Chemicals and coagulant are introduced into the reaction chamber I by meansof the pipes 30 and II which are preferably arranged so that their outlets are in the mixing chamber i4.

Sludge blow-off connections of the usual type 32 and It may be provided for the bottoms of chambers- I and I, respectively, as shown in Figure 1.

In operation, chemicals and coagulant are fed into the mixing chamber it through the pipes II and I1. Raw water to be treated is fed into the inlet chamber II and thus to the mixing chamber ll through the tangential nozzles II. The incoming raw water causes a certain amount of turbulent mixing action as well as rotation of the fluid mass within the casing II to create the required vortex. vanes II which at least partly arrest its rotary motion. It is then deflected outwardly by the bottom of the partition 4 and enters the recirculation chamber ll. As previously mentioned, rotation of the fluid creates a pressure difference between the central portion of the casing II and other'points in the reaction chamber 8. Hence,

fluid reaching the recirculation chamber II is drawn or forced downwardly around the outer a consequence, the precipitates resulting from the reaction between the chemicals and the undesirable constituents in the raw water do not form flne individual particles but, instead, are deposited by an accretive process upon the relatively large particles of slurry conveniently present in the chamber. It is thus a mixture of water and slurry particles which is forced up through the pipe 25 into the separation chamber 2.

Upon reaching chamber 2, the fluid is given a gentle rotary motion by the vanes 20 to prevent channeling. As the fluid rises toward the -top of'the floc bed I this rotary motion is arrested by another set of vanes II in the annular space between the concentrator l and the walls of the tank I. The fluid thus rises linearly through thetopoftheflocbedandtheslurryparticles are flltered out. Due to the reduction in upward velocity caused by the increase in area at the top of the concentrator I, clarifled water issues slowly from the top of thefloc bed and rises until it overflows into the storage tank I from which it may be drawn for use through the outlet I. Inasmuch as there is a thorough mixing in the reaction chamber 3 and the particles which enter the floc bed 0 are relatively large, the eiliuent is very clear and stable and not subject to after-precipitation.

The rate of recirculation of slurry and water inthereactionchambertisregulatedsothat thereisnosettlingoftheflocparticles. This This fluid rises through the recirculation is also a function of the ratio of the distance between opposite nozzle inlets and the diameter of inlet l6. The effect of these physical changes is to vary the speed of rotation of the vortex in the mixing chamber I 4. Variations in the speed of rotation cause changes in the pressure diflerence between the axis and periphery of the casing to. Since the rate of recirculation is determined by this pressure difference, variations therein result in changes in the rate of recirculation.

Slurry may be removed from the system by means of the concentrator 8. This is simply a hollow receptacle having an outlet pipe 36 to waste through which the passage of material is controlled by means such as the valve 31. Particles in the fioc bed 9 slide over the edge of the concentrator and are drawn off in concentrations greater than that existing in the fluid as a whole.

Thus, excess solids may be continuously or intermittently removed from the tank at whatever rate is required to maintain the proper density of the fluid mixture. It is obvious that heavy floc particles may also be removed through the drain lines 32 and 33.

In the embodiment of Figure 5 there is the usual tank or shell 5| with an annular storage tank 59 around its upper periphery from which treated water is drawn through the outlet 52. The casing 53 in this embodiment is shown as cylindrical though it may, of course, be another surface of revolution. It is mounted on the flow guiding support 54 so that the slurry inlet 55, which is of reduced diameter, is spaced above the bottom of the tank 5|. The annular space between the casing and the tank is the recirculation chamber 56 which may have vanes 51 therein for inducing linear flow of the. fluid passing therethrough. The inlet nozzles 58 for raw water are tangentially arranged around the lower end of the casing 53 so as to cause rotary action of fluid within the casing and thus create a vortex. Flow out of the casing 53 is obstructed by means of a horizontal circularfluid deflecting plate 59 which is placed in the upper half of the tank. This plate forms with the wall of the casing 53 an annular discharge passage 60. The interior of the casing 53 beneath the plate 59 comprises the primary mixing chamber 6| and that above the plate, the secondary mixing chamber 62. At the top of the secondary chamber 62, the casing 53 carries a number of flow guiding vanes 63 for arresting the rotary motion of the fluid and changing at least part of the velocity energy into potential energy. A sludge concentrator 64 is mounted on the casing 53 by means of the vanes 63 which act as supports therefor. The upper end of theconcentrator 64 is located in the floc bed 65 while its lower end extends down into the secondary chamber 62. The pipe 66 connects the lower end of the concentrator to waste and flow therethrough may be controlled by a valve 61. A threaded bore in the plate 59 engages the axial threaded stud 69 which extends downwardly from the bottom of the concentrator 64. This arrangement provides a convenient means for adjusting the axial or longitudinal position of the plate 59.

In operation, fluid within the primary mixing chamber 6| is rotated by the raw water coming in through the nozzles. 58 and vortex is created. Chemicals and coagulant are fed to this rotating mass through the inlet pipes 19 and II. The spinning fluid passes around the plate 59 through the passage 60 into the secondary mixing cham- '3 her 92. As it rises therein, it passes through the vanes 63 which at least partially arrest its r0.- tation so that it has substantially linearflow'... In general the mode of operation described in connection with Figure 1 applies to Figure 5 so that there is a pressure difference between the inlet and the upper end of the casing 53 which causes a recirculation of a large amount of the fluid leaving the secondary chamber 62. This fluid, of course, flows downwardly through the vanes 51 in the recirculation chamber 56 and back into the casing 53 through the inlet 55. The remainder of the fluid leaving the secondary chamber 62, equal in quantity to the raw water input, rises vertically to the floc bed 85 which filters out the slurry particles so that only clear treated water issues from the floc bed to-pass into the storage tank 58 and outlet 52. The amount of slurry in the system is controlled by withdrawing it through the concentrator 64. In the device of Figure 5 the rate of recirculation can be controlled, just as in the device of Figure l, by varying the energy of the incoming water or by varying the size of inlet 55. For predetermined diameters of the nozzles 59 and inlet 55 and predetermined nozzle positions, variations in the diameter of plate 59 also aiTect the rate of recirculation. There is an optimum diameter, which must be experimentally ascertained, at which maximum recirculation can occur. The plate 59 functions in much the same manner as the partition 4 of the device of Figure 1. It serves to prevent downflow into the vortex in chamber 6| and also, to some extent, to'decrease rotation of the upper body of fluid and thus to conserve energy for the recirculation system.

The device of Figure 6 is still another embodiment of the basic principle of using a forced vortex to cause recirculation. In this arrangement, the central casing 80 has a lower inlet 8| of reduced diameter and an upper outlet 82. The casing 89 is substantially enclosed by a larger hood 85 and forms therewith the annular recirculation chamber 86. While not illustrated, this chamber may have flow straightening vanes as in the previous"mcdiflcations. Both the hood 85 and casing 88 are supported by suitable means 81, which also acts to guide fluid flow, above the bottom 88 of the sh'ell 89 in which they are mounted.

with the recirculation chamber 86.

The hood and the shell 89 form an annular discharge passage 90 which is in communication This passage may have vanes 9| to guide flow in any desired manner.

The hood 85 has a vent pipe 92 which has an outlet outside of the water treating apparatus. It therefore provides means for escape of trapped gases. It will also be realized that the hood functions as the plate 59 of Figure 5 and the partition 4 of Figure l to prevent downflow of fluid and rotation of the fluid in the upper part of the shell 89.

Raw water is pumped into the casing 89 through the tangentially arranged nozzles 95 and chemicals through the nozzles 96 which are located just below the casing, though it will be realized that the chemical inlets could be situated in any other desired position in the path of flow. Fluid ejected from-the nozzles 95 strikes the arcuate baille plates 91 which are mounted on the bottom of the casing 80. Rotary motion of the body of fluid in casing 89 is thus created and maintained so that a vortex is formed as in the previous embodiments. If desired, a paddle wheel 98 may also be used torotate the fluid within the casing II. It is rotated by suitable means (not shown) ployed in the embodiments of the invention heretofore described.

The pressure difference in the vortex causes now out of the casing ll through at least the peripheral portions of its outlet .2. This fluid is deflected downwardly by the hood ll and pulled downwardly by suction from inlet ll which causes it to flow through recirculation chamber It.

in amount to the throughput of the apparatm; flows up through'discharge passage II to the upper portions of the shell I. where the preclpi tated particlesarelewltedoutbythemual meanssuchasthoseillustratedintheprevious embodiments; The remainder of the fluid is forced through inlet Ii where it again becomes part of the vortex within the casing I].

Itwillnowbeeasilyrealisedthateach'embodiment of my apparatus is based upon principle of actuating recirculation by a forced vortex which is preferably created by hydraulic energy. The most elementary form of device embodying this principle is diagrammatically illustrated-in Figure 8 wherein the casing ill having a inlet Ill and an outlet II! is disposed withinthe shell ill. The raw water inlet noazles ill pro-. iect non-radially into the casing and create vortex with streamlines, in elevation. as indicated, the symbol C indicating the capacity. flow or flow to outlet, and the symbol 8 indicating recirculatory flow. It is clear from l'igurelthat the present invention is not limited to any par: ticular orientation of the casing ill with to the shell ill since the vortex .created is inde j pendent of the shell;

Inthedeviceofr'igure8.aswellasintheother embodiments. the reaction of chemicals and water occurs primarily in the zone within and around the casing ill and separation oi theprecipitated constituents occurs in the upper part of the shell II! as themixture of water and solids passes through the floc bed (not shown).

As already indicated. it is possible to create a 66 vortex in many diiferent ways. Figures 9 and 10 show two additional means incorporated into the structure of Figure 6 for creating vortices.

In Figure 9 rotative paddles and lets are used. This is most easily accomplished by providing a hollow stem I" which extends'down the tube into the casing liia. The stem III is rotated by suitable means (not shown) and carries inlet raw water by means of a suitable (not 'shown) with the raw water inlet line (not shown). In the casing-a plurality-of branch arms in extend radially-outward from the stem ill. These arms are hollow water from the stem flows throu h them and out the nosslu ill at the ends-of the pipes I22. The

nossies are arranged sothat water issues in the direction of rotation.

The paddles I" may be attached by any, suit-. able means to the branch arms ill w are prefera ly M a mu m an m m.

In Figure 10 a vortex is createdby rotating the casing "b. This may be accomplished by flxedly connecting the rotating shaft ill to the casing by means of suitable arms ill. The shaft 5 I is mounted on suitable thrust bearings (not shown) so as to carry the weight of the casing "D. The friction between the casing D and water therein is suflicient to rotate the fluid and create a vortex. However, if desired. longitudilo nal vanes I may be spaced aroundthe inner periphery of the. casing no to apply normal forces to the fluid.

If desired-the raw water may be tangentially directedintothecasingllbsoastoalsoapply l5 rotative forces to the fluid. Since the casing is rotating this is most easily accomplished by bringing the raw water into the casing through the bottom inlet lib by means of a pipe i". This pipe has radial branches ill in the casing terminating in nozzles I which are arranged Part of the fluid flowing from chamber It, equal to direct water in the direction of rotation of the casing. Thus. both hydraulic forces and frictional forcesbetween the rotating casing lllb and the fluid act to establish a vortex.

as Figures 8-10 and the other illustrations clearly show that this invention is extremely versatile and flexible and can therefore be used in widely modified forms to suit many diflerent condi What is claimed is:

so 1. In a water treating apparatus, a cy receptacle having an outlet for treated water. means dividing said receptacle into an upper separation chamber and a lower reaction chamber, a cylindrical casing mounted in said reaction chamber so that its lower end is spaced opening, inlet members for water projecting tangentially into said casing, a conduit having its inlet nearsaidcasinginletanditsoutletinthe bottom of said separation chamber, a bails plate spaced from said conduit outlet to deflect fluid flowing therethrough and means for feeding a chemical reagent into said reaction chamber.

2. In a water treating apparatus. an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a

casingwithinsaidshellformingamixingclmmberhavinganoutletatitsupperendandan inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end. means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a

themixingchambsrfor adiacentsaidin ietthroughsaidpartiflontoptmitfiowof liquldfromsaidmixingchamberinto said separation chamber.

bs ialanwtiet at'its eodand'aoinlet "Hindussdmfistavihmuiq its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemical into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a partitionin said shell forming a separation chamber and a reaction chamber, said casing being located in said reaction chamber, and a conduit extending from adjacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid from the mixing chamber into said separation chamber, a deflection plate in said separation chamber and spaced a predetermined distance from the outlet of said conduit to deflect liquid flowing from the conduit in paths transversely of the flow paths through the conduit.

4. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a pinrality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber and a reaction chamber, said casing being located in said reaction chamber. and a conduit extending from adjacent said inlet through said partitionto nermit flow of liquid from the mixing chamber into said separation chamber, a deflection plate in said separation chamber and spaced a predetermined distance from the outlet of said conduit to deflect liquid flowing from the conduit in paths transversely of the flow paths through the conduit, and arcuate vanes between said deflector plate and said partition to impart limited rotary movement to liquid flowing from said conduit into said separation chamber.

5. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzle extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly divergin vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the'mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a reduced extension upon said casing forming said inlet, a liquid flow guide 10 within said shell and engaging said casing at said inlet for supporting the casing and directing fluid flow to the inlet, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber and a reaction chamber, said casing being located in said reaction chamber, and a conduit extending from ad jacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid from said mixing chamber into said separation chamber.

6. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially oi the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, said casing being located in said shell to provide an annular recirculating chamber within the shell about said casing with which recirculating chamber said outlet communicates, a plurality of flow directing vanes carried by said casing about said outlet for re ducing the rotational movement of the water at the upper terminus oi. the vortex, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber, and a conduit extending from adjacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid from aid mixing chamber into said separation chamber.

7. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a reduced extension on said casing forming said inlet, a liquid flow guide in said shell and engaging said casing at said inlet for supporting the casing and directing liquid flow to the inlet, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber, a conduit extending from adjacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid from said mixing chamber into said separation chamber, a deflection plate in said separation chamber and spaced from the outlet of said conduit to deflect liquid flowing from the conduit in paths transversely of the flow paths through the conduit.

8. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumierentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially oi the walls there-- of to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a reduced extension on said casing forming said inlet, a liquid flow guide in said shell and engaging said casing at said inlet for supporting the casing and directing liquid flow to the inlet, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber, a conduit extending from adjacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid from said mixing chamber into said separation chamber, and arcuate vanes between said deflector plate and said partition to impart limited rotary movement to liquid flowing from said conduit into said separation chamher.

9. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumi'erentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams ct water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the we thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vertex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, said casing being located in said shell to provide an annular recirculating chamber within the shell about the easing with which recirculating chamber said outlet communicates, a plurality of flow directing vanes carried by said casing about said outlet for reduclng rotational movement of liquid at the upper terminus of the vortex, said shell having a separation chamber:therein, a doc concentrator within said shell and having an open inlet upper end located at a predetermined location in the shel1 to allow precipitated floc to flow from the separation chamber, and a liquid deflecting plate in said shell below the bottom of said fioc concentrator to deflect liquid laterally towards the side 0! the shell.

10. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in clrcumierentially spaced relation is short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams or water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, said casing being located 12 in said shell to provide an annular recirculating chamber within said shell about said casing with which recirculating chamber said outlet oomrnunicates, a plurality of flow directing vanes carried by said casing about said outlet for reducing the rotational movement or the water at the upper terminus of said vortex, said shell having a separating chamber therein, a floc concentrator within said shell and having an open let upper end located at a predetermined location in the shell to allow precipitated floc to flow from the separation chamber, said floc concentrn' extending downwardly in the shell and having its lower end opening out through the side 0! the shell, and a horizontal deflection plate in said shell directly below the bottom of said floc concentrator i'or laterally deflecting liquid flowing upwardly in the shell.

11. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water. a essing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumi'erentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially oi the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, said casing being located in said shell to provide an annular recirculating chamber within the shell about said casing with which recirculating chamber said mixing chamber outlet communicates, a plurality oi flow directing vanes carried by said casing about said outlet for reducing the rotational movement of the water at the upper terminus of the vortex, said shell having a separation chamber therein,

- a floc concentrator within said shell and having an open inlet upper end located at a predetermined location in the shell to allow precipitated floc to flow from the separation chamber, and a horizontal deflection plate within said casing for laterally deflecting liquid flowing upwardly through the mixing chamber.

12. Ina water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet of reduced croa sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feeding chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumierentially spaced relation a short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially o! the walls thereoi' to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, a partition in said shell forming a separation chamber and a reaction chamber, said casing being located in said reaction chamber, and a conduit extending from adiacent said inlet through said partition to permit flow of liquid irom said mixing chamber into said separation chamber, said partition inclin- 13 ing downwardly for a short distance inwardly of the shell to provide a limited sediment collection space at the bottom of said separation chamber. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water, a casing within said shell forming a mixing chamber having an outlet at its upper end and an inlet 01' reduced cross sectional area with respect to its outlet located at its lower end, means for feed ing chemicals into said mixing chamber, a plurality of nozzles extending tangentially into said mixing chamber in circumferentially spaced relation a. short distance upwardly from the inlet to discharge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially of the walls thereof to produce an upwardly diverging vortex 14 to produce an upwardly diverging vortex in the mixing chamber with the apex of the vortex in line with and in proximity to said restricted inlet to draw liquid from within the shell through said inlet into the mixing chamber for passage therethrough, said casing being located in said shell to provide an annular recirculating chamber within the shell about said casing with which recirculating chamber said mixing chamber outlet communicates, a plurality of circumierentially spaced vertically curved flow guiding vanes carried by said casing at said outlet for reducing the rotational movement of the water at the upper terminus of the vortex, said shell having a separation chamber thereima floc concentrator within saidshell and having an open inlet upper end located in the separation chamber to allow precipitated floc to flow from the separation chamber tion chamber, a liquid deflecting plate 10-.

cated a short distance outwardly of the outlet of said conduit for deflecting liquid issuing from the conduit laterally towards the side of said shell.

14. In a water treating apparatus, an outer shell having an outlet for treated water. a casing a short distance upwardly from the inlet to (115-.

charge a plurality of streams of water into the mixing chamber tangentially oi the walls thereof and having its lower outlet end opening out through the side of said shell. GEORGE P. CLEMENT.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,963,200 Hawley June 19, 1934 2,179,246 Applebaum Nov. '7, 1939 2,314,977 Green Mar. 30, 1943 2,348,124 Green May 2, 1944 2,353,358 Prager July 11, 1944 2,355,069 Green Aug. 8, 1944 2,364,023 Green Nov. 28, 1944 2,365,293 Robinson Dec. 19, 1944 2,370,356 Kamp;et al Feb. 27, 1945 2,391,697 Green Dec. 25, 1945 2,400,598 Prager May 21, 1946 2,404,701 Felsecker July 23, 1946 Green Aug. 12, 1947 

